Roxy’s Relief

Roxy’s Relief is a shelter intervention program. By providing basic veterinary care for pets of our vulnerable neighbours, we are helping to enhance animal protection, which in turn will have a positive impact on the individual within the community. Helping pets of those in need also helps to keep animals with their families and out of the shelter system.

Our organization recognizes the positive impact pets have on vulnerable individuals, including those that are homeless. This relationship is often their only constant source of companionship, and at times can be the one thing that keeps them going. Healthy communities include healthy animals.

Our Accomplishments

Through our Roxy’s Relief program we have helped hundreds of pets get food and supplies, and we have provided funding for emergency veterinary care for animals in need. In addition, we continue to hold pet health care clinics in Vancouver’s poorest neighbourhoods, New Westminster and Surrey.

Please help today—your donation makes a difference!

We are committed to responsible stewardship of donor dollars and work hard to remain transparent in how donations are utilized.

$30 will feed a pet for a month (or two!)

$50 for a physical examination

$100 for a physical exam and vaccinations

$150 to neuter a pet

$250 for blood work and x-ray

$275 to spay a pet

$500 for much needed dental surgery

$1000 for emergency surgery

$5,000 to provide free spay & neuter clinic

$5000 for a one day health clinic for the pets of those who are homeless or low income

How We Help

Roxy’s Relief provides support to homeless, street-involved and low-income pet guardians by offering free animal health clinics and vet care assistance. Through our partnerships with community organizations serving low-income and homeless individuals and families, we help to ensure pets get the medical care they need. We also work with participating veterinary hospitals to provide quality care for pets in need. When possible, we refer patients to a partner organization who has agreed to provide care for our clients at a discounted rate:

Animal Health Clinics

Each year we work with local community agencies, veterinary hospitals and veterinary medical staff to provide free health clinics for the pets of the homeless and those that are low income. Currently, we are authorized by the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia to hold these clinics in Vancouver’s downtown eastside (DTES), New Westminster, Langley, Abbotsford and Surrey. We are aware that the need for our clinics is province wide and we aim to continue to expand.

Over the long term, we see the clinics as part of our ongoing goal to increase access to veterinary care and to build a sustainable animal welfare system that provides the utmost care for our companion animals in our province. This program promotes responsible pet guardianship by assisting individuals to get basic veterinary care for their pets. We increase people’s knowledge of the benefits of spaying and neutering their pets, with a goal of getting them to agree to sterilize their pet. By providing the necessary vaccinations, we also provide health benefits to the community at large, by reducing the likelihood of the spread of deadly diseases, such a parvovirus, distemper and rabies. Information on responsible basic care, and pet guardianship, including licensing information, is also made available.

Our animal health clinics are run by our volunteer Animal Health Team. Many of the supplies are donated from veterinary medical supply companies. The clinics are busy days, with many cases requiring follow-up care, such as medications or surgeries. Each pet who requires care beyond what can be treated at the clinic receives the veterinary care needed. Donations to Roxy’s Relief help to keep our clinics going, and ensure those pets receive the follow-up care they need.

Some of the pets helped in 2019

Some of the pets helped in 2018

Our Roxy’s Relief Partners

Watari Counselling & Support Services Society
Watari Counselling & Support Services Society is a registered, charitable social-profit organization established in 1986 in a response to a lack of services and programs for street involved youth and families. Invested in creating space for change we are guided by a belief in the individual’s innate strengths, capabilities and desire for wellness.

Directions Youth Services Centre
Directions Youth Services Centre, operated by Family Services of Greater Vancouver, provides Vancouver’s homeless youth and at-risk youth with a single entry point to access the tools, support, and guidance they so desperately need to go about making healthy, positive changes in their lives. Directions strives to be accessible to all youth, regardless of their circumstances and fosters a culture of respect. Directions Youth Services is working closely with the community to develop solutions to end youth homelessness in Vancouver and to change the community’s perception of street-involved youth. directionsyouthservices.ca

Lookout Housing and Health Society
Founded in 1971, Lookout provides housing and a range of support services to adults with low or no income who have few, if any, housing or support options. Because Lookout serves people who that struggle meeting basic needs and goals, the organization places minimal barriers between them and our services. lookoutsociety.ca

RainCity Housing

RainCity Housing and Support Society is a grassroots organization built around compassion, purpose and a commitment to delivering progressive housing and support solutions for people living with mental illness, addictions and other challenges. The people who benefit from the services of RainCity Housing are treated with dignity and respect, and are offered a safe place to live, independence and improved quality of life. www.raincityhousing.org

Seniors Services Society
Seniors Services Society (SSS) is an amalgamation of the Seniors Housing Information Program Society and the Western Society for Seniors Citizens Services. SSS was incorporated in February 2006 and now offers over fifty years of combined experience serving seniors in the BC Lower Mainland. Our society is proud to continue a strong legacy of volunteerism and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The society offers support and information for seniors in three distinct areas: Support Services for seniors living in New Westminster; Housing Services for seniors province wide; and information for seniors and service providers throughout the Lower Mainland via our Community Education department. Annually, SSS serves over 3000 vulnerable and socially isolated seniors across the province, 1000 of who reside in New Westminster. seniorsservicessociety.ca

The Portland Hotel
The Portland Hotel, notwithstanding its name, provides permanent accommodation for 86 adults with mental illnesses, addictions and other problems. It combines housing with professional supports to assist residents according to their individual needs and desires.

Covenant House
Homeless, lost and afraid, more than 1,400 street–involved youth come to Covenant House Vancouver each year to find sanctuary and a brighter future. www.covenanthousebc.org

Harvest Project
Harvest Project serves Metro Vancouver’s North Shore, extending a hand up to those in need. Helping to restore our neighbours to health and stability benefits the whole community. Our vision is to enlarge our work as a sustainable and compassionate presence for North Shore residents—by North Shore residents.

Become a Roxy’s Relief Service Organization Partner
Does your organization provide services for individuals who are homeless or street-involved? If you are interested in becoming a partner, contact Kathy at kathy@pawsforhope.org or call 604-396-9297